The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1887-11-13
A SOCIAL PROBLEM.
Ladies of Former Wealth and
Fashion Under Poverty.

What story lies, perhaps, betw eer
the lines OF this little advertisement,
taken from the columns of the Herald
A LADY WILL CONTRACT FOR ARTS
n tic work, embroidery, painting, etc
for holiday presents. Address Holiday
Worker, Herald Office.
Work for the holidays: pretty things
for Christmas time, when all the world
is happy.
Not charity, not assistance" degrad.
ing with the sense of beneficence be
slowed; only an opportunity to make
available the talents and artistic tastes
encouraged, perhaps, in years when
there never came a dream of want,
and when the Christmastide made ex-
cuse for lavish giving.
"One of the problems that continually
perplexes society is how best to aid
gentlewomen who are thrown upon
their own resources for their support"
PROBLEM FOR SOCIETY.
The speaker herself occupies high
position in society, and her name is al
ways to be found at the head of charit-
able projects, with good round sum
attached.
at is a question" she continued,
"that comes home to US every day, for
the number of women of gentle birth,
who from being rich and Independent,
are, through misfortune, brought face
to face with actual poverty, is very
large"
Women of this order do not sit
down and fol Their hands when grim
necessity stalks in at the door, but the
more thoroughbred the harder the
stru gle, and for weapons they bring
into play every talent or accomplish
ment they may possess.
Already there is demand for little.
inexpensive articles for Christmas CUTS,
and at the various places where women s
work is placed on sale the thousand and
one things that women's fingers deity
put together are filling up the shelves.
ssTHE WORK OF WoMEN's HANDS.
In an unpretentious building at No.
81 East Eighteenth Street, up one flight
of uncarpeted stairs, there is little
room stocked with the work of delicate
feminine fingers. 1t is the first ladlse'
depository founded IN this city, and
among its patrons are the Astors, Van
derbilts, Hoffmans, Stusrts, Van Rens-
selaers and other members of old New
York families.
Mrs. G. B. Coxhead, who has charge
of the business of the depository said
that the institution was intended to
benefit ladies who had experienced a
reverse of fortune and who could not
20 Arl~ NJ -
them had talent for ornamental work
accomplishments could always earn
something by doing plain sewing
About holiday time they make dolls
and other playthings for the chill ron
and fancy things for Christmas gifts.
said she: Il have known relatives of
wealthy patrons OF the depository to
stand beside them at our counter-one
the customer, the other asking for
some work to debut one never knew
toe others business. l know two
daughters of former New York judge,
who are now compelled TO take in sew
ing and to make fancy things to help
keep up appearances. They live in a
fine hou.e that they own, but they have
very little money.
People of this class are never willing
to talk about their troubles, and it is
always very close necessity that drives
them to ask assistance in any form"
Another of these places is that of
Nine. VIgouroux, on East Seventeenth
Street. The rooms are filed with dainty
handiwork, embroideries, babies trous-
seaux and lingerie of every conceivable
kind, and every bit of it the work of
gentle hands, urged by necessity.
FORMER SOCIETY WOMEN WHO WORK.
And how many of these necessitous
women do you imagine this one estab-
lishment supports? Seventy
Two years ago lady, whom the little
French woman knew very well by her
name and position in society, entered
the shop, not as a purchaser, but to
seek employment. She saw some peo-
pie she knew, so she only lowered about,
gazed at things and went out. Next
day she came back She could do fine
sewing and could paint on silk. She
began to work. AS the days and weeks
went on her affairs became worse; then
sickness came, aud she kept on working
by the bedside of her daughter until the
child died.
SQ0 COulG 0OG supp. 1OE Iu6 llbJl6
family lived on what she earned with
her needle; she could not weep. for the
scalding tears would soil the delicate
faorics she embroidered. In the two
months during which her child lay sick
this delicately reared woman, who had
once been very wealthy, earned just $44
with her needle and her palette.
A POLITICIANS DAUGHTERS
There are four sisters who live in
handsome house on one of the fashion,
able uptown streets. For years their
father held a political position under
the government, but the change of ad-
ministration threw him out He had
lived we'll aud saved nothing. To-day
he wanders about, unit for any en-
pIoyment, while his daughters. by their
combined work, try to keep up appear
ances. They are related TO well known
families, bat shat is more Of misfor-
tune than otherwise. Three of them do
all sorts of sewing, and the other teaches